Article-packing machine



Dec. 28 1926. 1,611,928

. E. T. MCKAIG ARTICLE PACKING MACHINE Filed August 51. 1925 15 sheetslshf 1 Dec. 2s 19290 1,611,928

E. T. MCKAHG ARTICLE PACKING MACHINE Filed August 5l. 1925 13' sheetsI-snet' 9 Mwbmg Dec. 28 1926. l)61l,928

l E. T. MCKAIG ARTICLE PACKING MACHINE Filed August 31. 1925 13 Sheets'lsheef s Dec. 28 1926.

E. T. MCKAIG ARTICLE PACKING MACHINE 1925 15 ShetS-She'ei Filed August 5l uffi/W Dec. 2.8 1926. 1,611,928

' E. T. MGKAIG ARTICLE PACKING MACHINE Filed August 5l. 1925 15 Sheets'-she et` 5 Eck/y1' Mc fra@ Dec. 28, 1926.

E. T. MCKAIG ARTICLE PACKING MACHINE Filed August 3l 1925 1s sheets-shrif Dec. 28 1926. A

E. T. MCKAIG ARTICLE PACKING MACHINE Filed August 5ll 1925 13 Sheets-She' 7 Dem. 28, 1926. 1,611,928

E. T. MCKAIG ARTICLE PACKING MACHINE Filed Aiqgust 5l, 192s 1s sheetslsh Dec. 28 1926.

E. T. MCKAIG ARTICLE PACKING MACHINE Filed August 5l. 1925 1s sheetsLshe-ef e 757 010777071? E' C7671/ TMC/fa@ Dec.. 28 1926.

E. T. MCKAG ARTICLE PACKING MACHINE Filed4 August 51 1s sheets-smet Dec. 28 1926.

E. T. MCKAIG ARTICLE PACKING MACHINE Filed August 51. 1925` 15 Sheets-She-ef 11 Ua am 70' M m MV Dec. 28 1926. 1,611,928

E. T. MGKAIG ARTICLE PACKING MACHINE Filed August 3l, 1925 13 sheets-sheet 1;

(Zag /7 \l ya@ Dec. 28 1926. v 1,611,928

E. T. MCKAIG ARTICLE PACKING MACHINE Filed August 3l. 1925 '15 Sheets-She-ei l5 Patented Dec. 28, 1926.

lUNITI-:D gSTATES EDDY 'n mmm, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AssIGNoR 'ro ANTON rami, or CHICAGO,

ILLINoIs. l

, ARTICLE-PACKING MACHINE.

Application led August 31, 1825. Serial No. 53,590.

My invention relates to improvements in *machines for packing articles in cartons orboxes and hasspecial reference to the ackiiig of merchandise such as food pro -ucts, etc., which are usually enclosed in relatively large light Weight packages and packed in cartons made of paper boa-rd andhaving hinged closure flaps. I l This present invention is an improvement upon the inventions described and claimed in my copending, applications Serial 589,799 and Serial No. 702,247 vand has special reference to improvements in flap holding devices, in cartonor box control mechanisms, in means for assembling the packages into a layer and projecting a layer at a time intov the container, and in means for removing the filled carton from the machine.

A particular feature of this present in- Vention relates, to the assembling of the packages in a layer containing plurality of 4rovvs and means controlled by Veach rouz of the approaching packages for automatically stopping the packing mechanism upon failure of any row of packages. This ensures that every layer is a full and complete'layer before it is inserted into the container.

y Other features relate tonovel means for controlling some of the closure iiaps ofthe container, :means for supporting the .container and for dropping it step by step to receive the several layers, means for project-M ing a layer of packages into the container, novel means for guidingthe container as it descends and is filled and foropening said guiding means to permitthe4 escape of the filled containers.

Other features relate to a simple easily operable 4clutch for use with the automatic` starting and stopping mechanism and4 Which clutch is also-capable of manual operation, and to a novel friction clutch through which power is applied to operate the machine andl which. upon the forced stopping of the machine Will give an audible signal.

A u important feature relates to the novel layer inserting means Wliich'permits the continued assembly of succeeding layers as the preceding layers are being inserted into the container.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference vto the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification,

and in which:

Figure 1, is a side elevation of a machine I constructed and my invention; M lFigure 2, is a front elevation of the machine; l

Figure 3, is a fraginentaryside elevation of the machine as seen from the side opposite to Fig. 1;

Figure 4, is a top plan view;

Figure 5, is a horizontal section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 6, is a fragmentary, vertical, transverse section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3;

Figure 7, is a fragmentary vertical sectional view on the line 7-7 of Fig. 4;

-Figure 8, is a fragmentary Vertical sectional view on the line 8--8 vof Fig. 2;

Figure 9, is a fragmentary vertical sectional vieW- on the line 9-9 of Fig. 2;

Figure 10, is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view on the line 8--8 of Fig. 2;

Figure 11;"is a detail horizontal sectional view on the line 11-11 of F ig. 6;

Figure 12, is a fragmentary section on the line 12-12 of Fig. 11;

Figure 18, is a fragmentary vertical section on the line 13e-13 ofFig. 7;

Figure 14, is a fragmentary detail ,verticalA .section on the line 14-14 of Fig. 18;

Figure 15,.-is a fragmentary vertical scctional view on the line 15--15 of Fig. 3;

Figure 16, is, a fragmentary vertical sectional vieW on the line 16-16 of Fig. 3;-

Figure v17', is a fragmentary central sectional view on' the line 17-17 of Fig. 18;

Figure `18,'is a fragmentary vertical sectional vieW on theA line 18-18 of Fig. 1:

Figure 19, is a fragmentary vertical scc-l tional vieiv on the line 19-19 of Fig. 18;

Figure 20, is a perspective view of one of the articles which the machine is designed to pack;

Figure 2,1, is a perspective view of one of the cartons or boxes into which the articles are packed by the machine;

Fig. 22, is a fragmentary, horizontal 'section on the line 22-22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 23, is a perspective View of the pack- @se guide;

Fig. 24, is a perspective view of one of the guide bars for the package guide illus'- trated'in Fig. 23; and

Fig. 25, is a fragmentary, vertical section on the line 25-25 of Fig. 1.

My improvedpacking machine is adapted to pack Wrapped packages or boxes such as operablein accordance with those in which breakfast foods, soap chips,v

etc., are enclosed for sale. Such packages plurality of the certain problems which require special developments to meet them. This present machine is adapted for receiving the 'output from two wrapping machines carried to the machine in two lines of thepackages and to pack such packages in large cartons or boxes 1n a plura ity of layers each containing a ackages. The machine 1s especially adapteld or arranged, for packing the packages 1, illustrated 1n Fig. 2O into the cartons or boxes 2, illustrated in Fig. 21.

The cartons 2 are made of heavy cardboard or corrugated paper board and are provided with attached closure flaps such as 3 and 4 which have to be held back out of the'way while the cartons are in the machine. The machine is provided with a vertical chute 5 down whichthe boxes 2 move past the packin mechanism designated generally by '6.

he articles or packages to be packed are delivered `to the packing mechanism 6 by a conveyor belt 7 which is trained around a conveyor roller 8 mounted in suitable bearings `on the frame of the machine. The packages 1, as best shown in Fig. 4, are shown as being delivered to the packing mechanism in two parallel lines, and in a direction to move forward through the packing mechanism into the 'cartons 2, passing down the chute 5. I

The machine is e uipped with simple `means for lowering t e boxes 2 down the chute step by step for receiving the several layers, with means for dividing off from the streams of packages, delivered to the machine, sufficient of the packages for forming each layer and moving them forwardly into the box, with automatically operable means for stopping the machine upon the failure of either of the lines of approaching packages, and automatically starting the machine again upon the completion of theslines of packages and with many subsidiary co-ordinated features whereby I amenabled to fill and deliver two of the cartons 2, each with 30 packages, each minute. In other words I am enabled to pack 3600 packages an hour.

I will first describe the movement of the carton2 into, through, and out of the ma- The outer end 11 of the chute 9 is open and shown in Fig-2 to part of the front wall 12 is cut away as permit the easy entrance of the carton into t e chute 9 by the operator with the forward flap 4 turned back and the top and bottom flaps 3 turned back. The rear flap 4 of the forward carton in the chute 9 is swung back and held back by the following carton and the forward flap 4 ofthe following carton is held back for a time by the preceding carton.

The control of the top flap 3 as the carton descends the vertical chute is fully described A and claimed inv my said earlier application Serial No. 589,799.- The forward flap 4 is held back on the carton in the horizontal chute 9 by the preceding carton which is descending the vertical chute 5 until the preceding carton drops below the floor of the horizontal chute 9. In order to hold back ing cartonbefore'the prece ing carton has dropped far enough to disengage same. As

4 after the preceding carthe' following carton is pushed into the upper end of the vertical chute 5 the lever 13 swings over to the right, to perm-it this movement, to the position shown at 15 permitting the carton to dro down the chute 5.

Thisy flap holding le Slightly b the weight 16 to cause it to swing to the le t as soon as it is released by the carton dropping down the chute 5.

Each carton 2, 4is free inthe chute 5, to drop down and is supported by the preceding carton until the preceding carton has been filled and is discharged from the ma-v chine. I provide simple means for supporting the cartons at the proper heights relatively to the packing mechanism to receive the several layers therefrom. For supporting the carton to receive the first layer I preferably rovide means for supporting the carton at t e back and at the front. This support means comprises a horizontal bar 17 at the rear of the machine provided with twodepending rigid arms 18`having inturned or hooked lower' ends 19 adapted to enter into the rear of the chute 5 into the path of the descending cartons, and as best shown in Figs. 8 and 9 engage beneath the rear edge of the carton 2. I also. provide a cro'ss bar 20 at the front of the chute 5 upon which are rigidly mounted two upwardly projecting arms 21 bent at their free ends 22 to extend horizontally. These arms are inclined inwardly so that they are .normally within the path of the cartons and in such position that the horizontal ends 22 engage beneath the forward edges of the cartons 2. At the time that the carton rests at its bottom rear edge upon the hooked projections u ver is overbalanced chute remesa 18 it also rests at top front edge'upon the projections 21. 'Whenheld on said projections the carton is positioned, in relation to the packing mechanism, to receive the first layer of ackages. Rigidly connected with the crossV ar 17 is a de ending arm 23 which carries a projecting pin 24. A slotted link 25 engages the pin 24 and the opposite end of the linkl is pivotally connected with a swinging lever 26 at 27 pivotally mountedbetween its ends at 28 on a side wall of the The upper end 29 of the lever 26 is connected by a short link 30to the upper end of an arm 31rigidl 'connected with the cross bar 20 and extendingupwardly therefrom. When the lowe'end of the lever 26 is swung back to withdraw the hooks 19 the projections 21 are simultaneously swun forwardly" out of the chute, shown in otted lines to permit the carton with its first layer to drop.` For supporting the cartons 2 at theproper heights to receive the successive layers after the first and for permitting them to drop after each layer has been inserted I provide a pair of vertically movable bars 31 (Figs. 3 and 8) rigidly mounted at their rear ends on a horizontal shaft` 32 which is mounted in suitable bearings on the end of a swinging arm 33 which in turn is mounted at its lower end on a cross horizontal shaft 34 carried in suitable bearings on the frame of the machine. The swinging arm 33 has an upwardly extending rigid projection 35 which is adapted to be engaged by a pin 36 projecting out from a crank arm 37 rigidly mounted on a rotatable Shaft 38 mounted in suitable bearings on the frame A of the machine. For each revolution of the shaft 38 the upper end of the swinging arm 33 is swung forward and the shaft 32 with the vertically movable bars 31' are swung or pushed forward. For returning the several parts of this construction to the normal rear position I provide a torsion spring 39 Fig. 16 which engages thev hub 40 of `the arm 33 at one end and a collar 41 at the other end.. rlhe sleeve 41 is yadjusted on the shaft 34-to adjust lthe tension ofthe spring 39. The return action of the spring is limited by an adjustable stop 42 Figs. 3 and 8 which en-v gages with the upper side of a forwardly projecting arm 43 rigid with the swinging arm 33. I preferably provide a rubber bumper 44 on the stop 42. The verticallyl swingingbars 31.which with the shaft 32 form a frame are swung up by means of a balance weight 45, see Figs. 1, 3, and 4 which is attached to a cable 46 wound around a.V suitable pulley 47 rigidly mounted on a transverse lrotatable shaft 48 carried in suitable bearings on the rear wall of the ,chute 5. The shaft 48 carries other pulleys 49 one at each side and rotatable with the shaft. Each (pulley 49 carries a cable 50 which is attache at its free end to one of the vertically swinging bars near its forward or free end. Preferably the 'cables- 50 are trained over idler pulleys 50 to bring them intosuitable alignment with the free ends of the bars 31,

as best shown in Fig. 3. As the vertical movement of the bars 31 is more than can conveniently be accommodated by a direct action of the-balance weight 45 I providey ,the arrangement described so that the weight cable46 can wind up on the pulley 47. For

the actual carton supporting member` I mount j a transversely extendingv su port member 51 in the free ends of the vertlcally swinging bars 31. This support memberv consists of a rod 52 extendlng across the chute 5 and through slots 53 in the free ends of the 'bars 31. This rod is suitably held against endwise movement and carries an antifriction roller 54 which extends across the chute 5 between the side walls thereof. This rod 52 with its roller 54, as best shown in Fig. 9, is moved up into contact with a carton 2` when the .same is in position to receive the first layer of packages. Juft as the first layer is completely entered the projection 36 on the crank arm 37 (see Fig. 8)

engages the arm `35 and pushes the two bars 31. forward. Une of saidjbars 31 has a rigid projection 55 near its free end (see Figs. 3 and 9) and so located that when the bars 31 reach the upper limit ofv their movement it rises behind the lower end 56 of the vertical lever 26 and in position to push said lower end forward when the bars 31 are pushed forward by the pin 36. This forward movement of the lower end of the lever 26 withdraws the cartonsupports 18 and 21 and/permits the carton with'its first layer of packages to rest upon the support roller 54. The carton with theI first layer .of packages is heavy enough to overcome the counterbalancing effect of the weight 45 and depress the bars 31 until stopped by support devices to be described. The side walls 56 of the chute 5 each have a substantially. vertical slot 57 in which the ends of the support with the slots 57 and in positlon to receive' and support the rod 52 at the desired height.

Each of these abutments 58- is pivotally.'

mounted at its lower end on one arm 59 of a bell crank as best shown in Fig. 13 to swing in a vertical plane. The bell crank is pivotally mounted at 60 upon the side wall of the chute and its opposite arm 61 depends and is adapted to be engaged by the point of a screw 62 adjustably mounted in a fixed bar 58 and at the other end with a in 66 rigidlyprojecting from the arm 61 oft e bell crank.

For causing the abutmentis to properly align with the slots 57 I provide an abutment bar 67 mounted on the side wall of the chute one -at each side just behind the slots .57 and curved to conform with the slots and against which the springs 64 yieldingly hold the free ends of the abutments 58. The springs .64 obviously also hold the bell cranks against the adjustable screws 62.

The first revolution of the shaftl 38 after the first layer has been inserted into the carton releases the carton from the supports 18 and 21 and the carton forces the support rod 52 .down upon the first pair of sup ort abutments or dogs 58.' Obviously the ars 31 are carried down with the rod 52. 1

Each bar 31. has a rigid shoulder 68 formed by the forward end of 'a block 69 rigidly mounted on the side of thebar 31. The shoulder is arranged beneath the .slot 53 and in position to engage the abutment blocks 58 above their pivoted ends and swing the abutmentsback and permit the support rod 52 to drop to the next pair of abutments. After the first layer of packages has been inserted and the carton has been dropped upon the iirstpair of'abutments the action vjust desqibedoccurs once foreach revolution of the shaft and the packingmecharename of the chute 5 before the vsucceeding carton drops-after the insertion of the first layer.

Ihe lower flap 3 on the carton might swing forward into vertical position upon its release from the preceding filled carton and in order to ensure that this flap will be folded back again beneath the carton as it drops down to be discharged I vprovide lswinging guides 73 mounted on a lcross shaft 74 atthe` ottom of the chute 5 and extendlng lnan' upwardly inclined 4position beneath the open side of the carton as the same .descends the chute and in position to engage 'e lower flap 3 and cause same to be swung back beneath the carton. In order to permit the carton to drop down vupon the con veyors the guides 73 are yieldingly lheld up by a tension spring'7 5 extending between an 'arm 76 rigidly carried by the ,shaft 7 l anda projection 76 rigid with the frame of the -machlne. The guides 73 are limited in their upward movement by engaging lwith the wall of the chute 5.

It will be obvious that the rear wall of cartons to be pushed out, butin order to prehvent the premature escape of the lower part the'carton as it descends the chute lI provide guards 77 at the two sides of the chute at the rear lower end of same which close in to engage the bottom of -the carton as it descends. These guard strips or plates 77 (as shown in Fig. and rigidly mounted on the free ends of arms 78-79 adjacent to the upper and lower ends of same and which arms are pivotally mounted at their opposite ends on the side walls ofthe chute 5, 'to swing out-horizontally and thus carry the guards 77 out side ways, as shown in dotted lines Figs. 3 and 5, to permit the discharge of the filled cartons. These guard strips are nism is coordinated therewith so. that it yieldngly held-'inwardly by tension springs occurs once for each layer inserted.

When the carton is filled the support rod 52 is released from the lowermost pair of abutment-s and the filled carton drops down upon a conveyor belt (see Fig. l0) by which the filled carton is carired away from the machine. To ensurethe discharge of the filled carton from the machine and its delivery to the conveyor I provide a pair of conveyor chains 71 arranged beneath the inner or open side of the carton and adapted to receive the same when it drops down upon the conveyor 70. The chains 71 are provided with carton engaging projections 72 arranged to engage the lower edge of the open side of the carton and push it out of the chute 5. I preferably arrange the lowermost position of the support rod 52 so that the filled carton is supported at such time upon the support roller 54 slightly above the conveyers and consequently it can be moved quite easily out of the chute 5. The mechamsm is sotimed that the'lled' carton is out 80 connected between a part of the chute and a projection 81 rigid with the lower hinge 'bars 79. To force these hinge bars 78 and 79 to swing outwardly againstthe closing action'of the springs 80 I provide vertically extending bars 82 Figs.' 3 and 15 one at each side and arranged beneath the outer ends of the hinfre bars. Each of these bars 82 is carried lby an upper bar 83' and a lower bar 84 pivotally mounted on the side walls of the chute 5 between their ends. The bars 82 link the forward ends of the upper and lower bars together and the rear ends of these pivoted bars extend across the path of the support rod 52 and are each adapted to be engaged by said rod 52 as it approaches the upper and'lowerlimits respectively of its movement. l/Vhen the support rod 52 approaches the lower limitof its movement, as best shown in Fig. 3, it engages the rear end 85 of the bar Stand swings it down thereby moving the vertical bar 82 upwardly. On the lower end of the bar 82 there is I fixed alongitudinal wed in projection 86 adapted to' engage beneat t e forward end of the hinge bar 7 9 and swing same outwardly sutlicient to lswing the attached guard strip 77 out of the path of the carton as it leaves the chute 5. The contacting surface or edge -of the projection 86 has an inclined part 87 and a straight part 88 adapted to retain said guards in open position until the support vbar 52 is released and is moved up to its upper position where it eno'ages beneath the rear ends of the upper hmge bars and moves them up thus moving the bars 82 downwardly and withdrawing the wedging projections 86 from beneath the lower hlnge bars and permitting the springs 80 to close the guards.

As the carton is nearl filled its top wall has a tendency to sag own and it mlght drop so low as to hinder the free insertion of the last layer of packages. To prevent this action I provide means for holding up the top wallat the time of the insertion of the last layer. This means comprises depending lat bars 89 (see Figs. 1 and 10) rigidly mounted at their upper ends upon a horizontal bar 90 extending across the open face of the chute 5. The lower free ends 91 of the bars 89 are bent inwardly and are adapted to project into the chute 5 in the path of the descending cartons.

(lil

The cross bar 90 is pivotally mounted at its ends on the side walls of the chute 5, at 92 to swing on a horizontal axis to move the hooked ends 91 out vof and into the chute as shown in dotted and full lines in Fig. 10. In said Fig. 10, a carton is shown as receiving the last layer of packages and the top wall of the carton is held up atthe open side of the carton,` as shown in full lines.

Immediately after the last layer is in` serted the holding hooks 91 are withdrawn to permit the `filled carton to drop freely. To effect this withdrawal of the hooks one end of the bar 90 is provided with a-rigid depending arm y93 which is connected by a short horizontal link 94 to the upper end 95 of la vertical lever 96 pivoted between its ends at 97 to the side wall of the chute 5. The lower end 9 8 of the lever 96 extends down toward the lower end of the chute 5 and at a point coincident with the position of the rods 31 when they are ready to knock out the lowest pair of supporting dogs 59, it is provided a striking plate 99. This plate is pivotally mounted between its ends on the bar 96 at 100. The late 99 is elongated and is adapted norma ly to lie substantially horizontal. `Its rear end 101 is ada ted to be engaged by a pin 102 projecting rom the side of one of the bars 31' as the bars 31 move' forward to throw 0E the last pair of support dogs 59 after the insertion of the last layer of packages. This engagement swings thelowei` end 98 of the lever 96 for- `and adapted to contact with the such premature action I pivotally mount the late 99 so that if its rear end 101 is struck y the descending pm 102 it is free to swing down. The plate 1s over balanced, its forward end 103 beingthe heaviest so that as soon as the bars 31 are drawn back for the next stroke forward, the plate 99 Vdrops back again to its normal position which is determined by a stop 104 rigid with the late 99 fbrward ed e of tie bar 96.

s the bars 31 drop down away from the plate 99 immediately after the withdrawal of the hooks 91 the hooks might swing into the chute again before the next following carton has dropped far enough to let the hooks swing into the open side thereof that is they might swing in belowI the lower wall of the next following carton and To prevent this 31 are released from the'filled carton and thebar 96 near its upper end and provided at its free end with a downwardly extending projection 106 adapted to drop into a notch 107 when the upper end of the bar 96 is swung to the right, Fig. 1, to swing out the hooks 89 by the contact of the projection 102l with the plate 99 when the bars 31 move forwardto release the lowenmostA pair of support dogs 59. This latchholds the bar 96 in, position with the hooks 89 swung out until the bars 31 are released by the discharge of the filled carton from the machine and they are permitted to rise to their uppermost position. As the bars 31 approach their uppermost position one of them contacts with a trip bar 108 pivotally connected with the outer end of the latch bar 106 and freely depending therefrom. The trip bar has its lower end '109 bent to form an extension of suitable length so that the bar 31 will\lift it sufficiently to unlatch the bar 106 and let the bar 96 swing back to insert the hooks 89. When the bars 31 have reached their uplper position the next succeeding carton as dropped to position to receive the first layer of packages and con-` 'l seuently the hooks 89 drop into the open l si vwith an anti-friction bcdalon e thereof in position to en age' the ipf per wall of the carton when t 'e carton scends to a position to receive the lastA layer of ackages.

he packing mechanism. 6 which is arranged in front of the chute 5 is rovided w 'ch the packages1 are moved forwar l cartons when they are delivere from the conveyor 7. This anti-friction bed coinprises a number of parallel horizontal rollers the end ones I110 and 111 beingoperatively joined by a chain 112 Fig. 9 and the intermediate rollers 113 being all driven in a direction to cooperate with the packing mechanism to move 'the packages quicklyv and easily into the cartons. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, there are twoof theendless chains 112 one at each side.- I provide av transverse bar 114 carrying an anti-friction roller 115 secured to the two chains 112 bysuitable connecting brackets 116 Fig. 8) and extendin across parallel with t e series of rollers. his barv is adapted to engage the packages 1' and positively push a layer into the chute 5 for filling the cartons. There is but one of these pusher bars 114 on the chains 112 and each time the bar moves toward the chute or forward it carries a layer into the chute, and while it isl moving back againl to engage the next layer the carton is dropped in position to receive the next layer. Preferably these rollers are hollow, that is they are pipe rollers, they are therefore light in Weight and do not hinder the quick stopping and starting of the packing mechanism. 1 provide a receiving roller 117 close to the delivery end of the delivery conveyor. This receiving roller and the intermediate rollers 113 are driven by a di'ive'chain 118 which is trained around suitable toothed wheels 119 at the ends of said. rollers and around a similar toothed wheel 120 at the end of the chain and in order to obtain suitable contact of the chain with the wheels on the intermediate rollers I provide idlers 121 adapted to be depressed between-the chain wheels on adjacent intermediate rollers 113 (see Figs. 3 and 8) and by this means the rollers are all driven in the same direction. As indicated vin Fig. 4j the series of rollers which form a receiving platform are long enough to accommodate a plurality of rows of the packages 1, in this instance two rows.

lVhile the machine may be driven by any suitable means I prefer to provide a suitable electric motor 122 mounted on the frame of the machine beneath the packing mechanism. The shaft 123 of the motor is cou- `pled to a short drive shaft 124 by a suitable self aligning coupling 125. The shaft 124 carries a toothed pinion 126 which into the extends across the machine' and at its opposite end carries a toothed wheel 129 which receives a drive chain 130 trained around a similar toothed wheel 131 on a sleeve 132 rotatably .mounted on the shaft 133 of the forward anti-friction roller 110. I rovide a novel clutch means for rotatab y con nectingthe sleeve 132 with the shaftI133 which will be described laten'-y The shaft 133 extends across the frame of the ina chine and carries at its opposite end a' toothed wheel 134 which receives a drive4 short delivery conveyor chains 71 'are driven.'v4

This chain 135 is also trained around a suitable wheel (not shown) at` the outer end of theI delivery conveyor and by which it is driven.V The shaft 38 which carries the projection 36 is driven in suitable timed relation to the filler bar 114 by a pinion 137 on the shaft 137 which carries the feed roller 111, and meshing with a gear 138 on the shaft 38. The arrangement is such that the shaft 38 makes one 'revolution for each complete'forward and back movement ofthe filler bar 114.

I provide friction clutchmeans for operatively connecting the gear wheel 127 to the shaft 128 whereby should anything occur which would prevent the operation of the machine this connection will give and allow the motor to run without dama e to the machine. As best illustratedin ig. 112 this friction clutch means consists of two friction disks 139 one on each side of the ear. The

blocked in some manner, then it will slip.-

In order to call the attention of the-one in charge of the machine that it is'not running when the friction clutch slips I provide an audible signal consisting of a flat spring 144 secured to the outer face of the flange 141 and projecting beyond the periphery thereof and adapted to engage an inclined projection 145. On movement ofthe flange 141, which rotates with the shaft 128 to which it is keyed, the gear standing still, the spring is raised by the projection 145 and when it leaves it, it snaps down again thus making a clicking noise.

As explained before I provide means for stopping the operation ofthe machine upon the failure of either of the lines of approaching packages so as to ensure that every layer cally by the approaching packages.

of packages inserted in the lcarton shall be com lete. This means comprises a clutch mec anism for rotatably connecting the chain wheel 131 to the shaft 133, see Fig. 17, and disconnecting it from the shaft and I provide means for controlling this clutch manually by the operator' andalso auton'atins clutch means comprises a collar or disk 146 preferably keyed upon the hub 147 of the chain wheel 131 by means of a plurality'of key projections 148 on the hub and similar key ways in the hub of the d'sk. The disk is slidable from and toward the gear and between the'gear at one end and a flange 149 fixed on the outer end of the shaft 133. vThe ange 149 carries two diametrlcally positioned driving projections 150 and the ange 146 carries two similar and cooperating. driving projections 151. ,The movement of the flange endwise of the shaft 133 is suilic1ent to engage and disengage said driving projections. For shifting the flange 146 along the shaft to operatively clutch and unclutch the shaft 133 to the chain wheel 131,` I provide a radially projecting pin 152 Von the outer edge of the flange and a shiftable yoke 153 having two oppositely projecting inwardly extending projections 154 and 155 adapted to be positioned to engage the pin 152. The projections 154 and 155 are p rovided with oppositely inclined pin engagng surfaces 156 and 157 respectively which are effective to move the flange 146 longitudinally of the shaft 133 alternately in opposite directions. The rotation of the gear wheel 131 and consequently of the flange 146 is in the direction of the arrow on. Fig. 19. The yoke 153 is rigidly mounted on a horizonta'l bar 158 suitably mounted onk the frame of the machine to move back and forth transversely of the shaft 133for'the purpose of moving the projections 154 and 155 alternately into the path of the'projectlon 152.

The shaft 158 extends back and carriesa4 spring normally retains the shaft moved toA thel rightFig. 1, that is with the driving [lange 146 moved to the right, Fig. 18, that is in driving position. For automatically disengaging the clutch I provide a shaft 162 extending across the machine above the path of the packages and mounted in suitable bearings to be oscillated. At one end in alignment with the shft 158 this shaft 162- carries a dependent arm 163 provided on its lower free end 'withal head or pad-164 adapted to contact with the head 160 on the shaft.

158. If the arm 163 is swung to .the left, Fig. 1, it wlll move the shaft 158 to the left againstl the spring 159 and disengage theclutch 1n the manner already described. The

shaft 162 carries an arm 165 rigid therewith and projecting out over the approachingr lme of ackagcs; preferably near the outer edges o one of t e lines of the packages.

Should the packages fail the arm 165 will second arm 169 similar to the arm 163'and yalso adapted to move the shaft 158 endwise to disengafge the clutch. In this manner both lines of ackages control the machine so that if eit er line fails the machine' is stopped.

In addition to this automatic control I rprovide a hand lever 170 mounted on the side of the frame and having a handle 171 standing up in convenient position for the operator. The lever carries a projection 172 a Iapted to engage one of the arms depending from the automatic control.l Thelever is movable back and forth throu h a bayonet shaped slot 173 provided in a guide plate 174 fixed on the frame of the machine and a spring 175 is carried by the lever which forces itsidewise into the widened part 176 of the slot 173 when the lever is swung fotward and whereby the lever is` retained in machine stopping position until released manually from such position see Figs. l, 22 and 25. s

In packing packages which are relatively light' invweight into the cartons or boxes loi it sometimes occurs that the boxes do not always remain as positioned but tend either to drag backout of the box or to be tipped up out of true level position or assume other positions not desired. To position the packages accurately and positively and retain them definitely in their proper positions in the carton there is provided power actuated and timed means for cooperation with the packingv bar 114 for controlling the packages. I y

,To`prevent the packages which are already packed from interfering with the insertiony of the next succeeding layer there is provided a package guide 17.7 in the form of a flat plate -which rides back and forth on the rollers 113 see Figs. 4 and 23. This guide has vertical side flanges 178 between which the rows of packages are received and by which the packages are engaged with a slight frictonal engagement. These side flanges are long enough to extend back to the receiving end of the machine even when the guide is moved forward to its forward [limit in the packing operation. The rear portions 179 of these sideeflanges are made laterally yielding and their extreme rear ends 18() are slightly curved outwardly so n that the entering packages can easily enter 

